Knit fabric and method of knitting the same.



D R. w. SCOTT. KNIT FABR|C AND METHOD OF KNITTING THE SAME. APPEICATIONFILED SEPT. 26. I914.

Patented. Feb. 20, 1917.

ROBERT W'VSCOTT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SCOTT & WILLIAMS,

INCORPORATED, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY,

A CORPORATION OF JERSEY.

KNIT FABRIC AND METHOD OF KNITTING- SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Fgb, 20, 19117,

Application filed September 26, 1914. Serial No. 863,751.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBE T W. Soo'r'r, citizen of the United States, andresident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knit Fabrics andMethods of Knitting the Same, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to knit fabrics having parts side by side withother parts dis= playing a different surface material, such for instanceas stockings having an instep portion of one kind or color of yarn, orsurfaced with one kind or color of yarn, and a sole portion composedwholly of or surfaced with another kind or color of yarn. My inventionalso relates to improved methods of producing such fabrics.

Some of the objects of my invention are to provide an improved suture orjoint between parts, to provide for rapid production and improvedquality of the fabric, and to decrease the waste of material.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the relation of the yarns at the line1 -1 of Fig. 3 when practising one form of my new method;

Fig. 2 is a similar diagram showing a modified procedure, and

Fig. 3 is a side view of a typical stocking corresponding to myinvention.

The leg L and instep I in one form of my new article are'formed ofplated fabric comprising a base yarn 1 lyingwholly on the inner face orback of the article, and a face yarn 2 lying wholly on the outer surfaceor face of the article. 7

The yarn 1 may be of cotton and the yarn 2'may be of silk; or the yarn 2may be of any superior sort and. the yarn 1 of any inferior sort.

The fabric for the sole S, integrally joined to the part I at each sideof the foot at sutures s, is preferably composed wholly of inferioryarn, and may differ in color, in weight, in texture or in otherqualities from the fabric of the instep I and leg L.

In one instance, the sole S is knit of two or more yarns fed together,either in plating relation or at random, one of the yarns being the baseyarn 1, the other yarn or yarns 3 accompanying said base yarn in thefabric S only. The yarn 3 may be the same kind of yarn as the yarn 1.

The sutures s comprise a needle Wale or needle wales including the yarns1, 2, and 3,

in each course, the yarn 3 enteringand the yarn 2 leaving the fabric atthe back and at the borders of one suture; the yarn 2 entering and theyarn 3 leaving the fabric in a similar manner at the other suture.

The tubular leg L may be knit of successive circular courses comprisinga continuous length of yarns 1 and 2, and the tubular foot I, S, bysuccessive circular courses of the yarn l, the'part I of the foot havingadded thereto short runs of the yarn 2, and the part S having addedthereto short runs of the yarn 3. 1 v

I prefer to knit my improved article upon a closed or continuops seriesof needles such as the circle of needles n shown in Fig. 1 a

by continuouscircular knitting for the leg,

the yarns 1 and2 being supplied in relation to each other to cause yarn2 to plate upon yarn 1; by then forming the heel pocket as usualon apart of the needles by reciprocatory knitting; by then resuming thefeeding of yarns 1 and 2 in plating relation for the first course ofinstep part I; by removing yarn 2 only from the needles at the locationof a suture s on one side of the foot, after having introduced yarn 3 toone 01' more needles last taking the yarn 2, the yarn 2 floating withinthe needles; by then removing yarn 3 at the opposite suture s, aftertheintroduction again of yarn 2, yarn 3 floating within. the needles; byrepeating these operations in order until the parts I and S arecompleted, and by then knitting the toe t in the usual manner.

The article is now completed by cutting out all yarns such as the runsof yarn 1 and 2 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, floating at itsinterior, and looping the toe scam.

I may apply the steps of my method to the production of a stocking ofwhich the leg L and instep I are formed entirely of a doubled ormultiple run of superior yarn, the sole S being formed of an inferioryarn plated over by one component of the superior yarn. Referring toFig. 2, I knit the leg L by successive circular courses of twocontinuous yarns 7 and 8 (which may be, for instance, 9-thread and3-thread silk respectively) feeding yarn 8 from a position to plate uponyarns introduced at another posiplate upona third yarn fed from anotherposition.

The heel is then formed as usual, and feed ng of yarns"? and 8 is thenresumed for the first course of the instep I, but upon reaching thelocation of suture s, .yarn 7 is removedto-float at the interior, afterthe in troducti'on of an inferior yarn 9 (such as a cotton yarn) to oneor more needles last taking yarn 8, the yarn9 being fed when introducedfrom a position causing yarn '8 to plate -upon and outside of yarn 9for' the sole S. Theyarn 9 is removed at the opposite suture, afteragain introducing yarn 7.-

The product formed as last; described is. characterized by a continuousfaceyarn 8' of the' superior sort plated upon and over each of thesutures s and the'fabric S.

I am aware of stockings of the prior art having so calledsplit feetformed 'by re-' versed part courses interlocked at sutures connectingthe reversed part courses of the foot, and of patents describingstocklngs formed by circular knitting having imitation split-footstructures made by floating ail of the yarn engaged in the fabric of theinstep and all of the yarns engaged in the fabric of the sole across theinterior of the fabric from suture to suture, but I believe myself to bethe first to provide a structure of this class capable of being plated.As

will be well understood by skilled knitters,

. maintenance of the plating relation of the yarns at the reversal inthe case of reciprocatory knitting, or at the successive fresh entrancesof both yarns in the case of the alternate floating operatlon 1s eitherimpossible or so uncertaln as to' render commercial productionimpracticable. By the device of entering and removing one component onlyof the plating couple, this difficulty is avoided. The resulting productis improved in strength by the presence of the continuous yarn crossingthe suture, and economy of the expensive face-yarn is effected, whilepreserving the simplicity of devices and greater speed of productionattending continuous tubular knitting.

My new product is well adapted to be I made upon machines having devicesfor changing yarns of the types described and foot portion comprisingcontinuous courses of a base am, and having short runs of differentkinds of yarn interknit therewith 1n complementary parts of. the fabricin each course, said short runs in one of said parts lying in platingrelation to said base yarn. r r

4. A seamless stocking having a multiple .yarn .leg and instep, theinstep fabric comprising a base yarn continuous throughout the, .foot,and gshort runs of another yarn, and having a ole comprising said baseyarn and short runs of another yarn interknit therewith, said short runsof yarn being interknit together at their proximate ends;

5'. stocking having a seamless tubular foot-portion comprising partsjoined by longitudinal sutures at certain needle wales, said suturescontaining loops of a yarn continuous throughout sa1d foot portion.

' 6: A stocking having a seamless tubular foot-portion comprising parts,one of which is of plated fabric, joined by longitudinal sutures atcertain needle wales, said sutures containing loops of a yarn continuousthroughout said foot-portion, and loops of the face-yarn of said platedportion.

7'. In a seamless tubular knit fabric, a

longitudinal suture or joint structure comprising lapped ends of shortruns of yarn interknit for a plurality of courses in one or more needlewales, and a third yarn interknit with said short runs at said suture.8. In a seamless tubular knit fabric, a longitudinal suture or jointstructure comprising lapped ends of short runs of yarn interknit for aplurality of courses in one or more needle wales, and a third yarninterknit with said short runs at said suture in plating relationthereto.

9. The art of knittin fabrics having areas side by vside of a di erentsurface appearance on an endless series of instruments comprisingknitting a base yarn continuously in one direction at said instruments,knitting therewith in plating relation a second yarn, then removing.said second yarn and substituting a third 'yarn in the same relation,then removing said third yarn and substituting said second yarn, andthereafter repeating said operations in successive courses at the sameinstruments of said series.

10. The art of knittin fabrics having areas side by side of a'di erentsurface appearance on an endless series of instruments comprisingknitting a base yarn continuously in one direction at said instruments,knitting therewith in plating relation a second yarn, then supplying andinterknitting in like relation a third yarn, then removing said secondyarn, thereafter supplying said second yarn and then removing said thirdyarn, and thereafter repeating said operations at the same point in saidseries of instruments during successive courses.

11. Theherein described process of knitting seamless tubular fabricwhich consists in knitting a plurality of successive circular courses bycircular knitting, with a main thread, introducing an additional threadalong with the said main thread throughout a portion only of each courseof a number of successive circular courses, and introducing a separateadditional thread along with the main knitting thread throughout otherportions of the said courses, and carrying both of said additionalthreads into certain stitches of each of said courses at opposite sidesof the tube to bind the ends of the threads, said binding stitches beingformed of all three of said threads.

12. The herein described process of knitting a seamless tubular platedfabric, which consists in knitting circular courses of stitches bycircular knitting with a continuous main knitting thread, introducinginto a portion of the stitches of each of successive courses a platingthread, along with and in predetermined relation to the main knittingthread, and introducing a separate plating thread into other stitches ofthe same courses along with and'in predetermined relation to the mainknitting thread.

13. The herein described process of knitting a seamless tubular platedfabric Which consists in knitting circular courses of stitches bycircular knitting with a continuous main knitting thread, introducinginto a portion of the stitches of each of successive circular courses, aplating thread along with and in predetermined relation to the mainknitting thread, introducing a separate thread of different materialfrom the first plating thread along with the main knitting threadthrough the remaining stitches of each of the aforesaid successivecircular courses and into binding stitches at opposite sides ofthe'fabric containing the main knitting thread and both of said platingthreadsi 14. The herein described seamless tubular fabric formed ofcircular knit courses containing a main knitting thread extendingcontinuously and circularly around the tubular fabric andthrough all thestitches of successive courses. and having an additional threadextending through a portion of the stitches of each course of aplurality of successive circular knit courses. and having a separateadditional thread extending through the other stitches of each course ofsaid successive courses, and through certain stitches containing thefirst mentioned additional thread, whereby certain stitches in eachcourse at opposite sides of the tube contain themain knitting thread andboth of the said additional threads.

15. The herein described seamless tubular fabric formed of circular knitcourses contaming a main knitting thread extending continuously andcircularly around the tubular fabric and through all the stitches ofsuccessive courses, and having a plating thread extending through aportion of the stitches of each of a plurality of successive courses, inpredetermined relation with the main knitting thread, and having aseparate thread extending through the stitches of other portions of eachof said successive courses, in predetermined relation to the mainknitting thread, and extending into blnding stitches at each side of thetube containing the said plating thread Whereby the main knitting threadand said binding stitches cooperate to unite said portions of the tubeinto an integral seamless tubu lar fabric.

16. The herein described process of knitting seamless tubular fabricwhich consists in knitting a plurality of successive circular courses bycircular knitting. with a main thread, introducing an additional threadalong With the said main thread throughout a portion only of each courseof a number of successive courses, and floating it across the tube,introducing a separate additional thread along with the main knittingthread throughout the remaining stitches of each of said courses andinto the stitches at each side of the fabric, which also contain thefirst mentioned additional thread, floating said second mentionedadditional thread across the tube, and cutting the float threadsadjacent to opposite sides of the tube.

17. The herein described process of knitting a tubular plated fabricwhich consists in knitting circular courses of stitches by circularknitting. with a continuous main knitting thread, introducing into aportion of the stitches-of each of successive courses a plating threadalong with and insuch predetermined relation to the main knitting threadthat said plating thread will form the exterior of the fabric,introducing a separate plating thread of different material from thefirst plating thread along with and in predetermined relation to themain knitting thread through the remaining stitches of each of theaforesaid successive,

courses, and into stitches at opposite sides of the fabric containingthe first mentioned plating thread.

18. The herein described process of knitting a seamless plated stockingwhich consists in knitting the leg and foot of the stocking by circularknitting with a continuous main knitting thread, introducing a plating 7"through portions only of the courses of the foot forming the topportion of the foot,

and introducing a separate thread along with the main nitting threadthrough the other portions of the courses of the foot of the stkingforming the sole of the foot, and knitting the heel and toe pockets,whereby the main knitting thread extends con- "tinuously and circularlythrough all the circular courses of'theleg and foot uniting the leg andfoot and uniting the sole and top of the foot into an integral seamlesstubular 1 fabric.

19. The herein described process of knittinga seamless plated stockingwhich consists in knitting the leg and foot of the stocking by circularknltting, with a continuous main knitting thread, introducing a platingthread along with and in predetermined relation to the main knittingthread through circular courses in the leg portion, and through portionsonly ofthe courses of the foot forming the top portion of the foot, andintroducing a separate thread along with the main knitting threadthrough other portions of the courses of the foot of the stocking, andcarrying both of the separate threads with the main knitting threadthrough binding stitches in each course of the foot portion on oppositesides of the same, and knitting the heel and toe pockets, Wherebythemain knitting thread extends continuously and circularly through all thecircular courses of the leg and foot uniting the leg and foot, anduniting the sole and top of the foot, and whereby the binding stitchesfurther unite the sole and top of the foot. v

20. The herein described process of knitting a seamless stocking whichconsists in knitting the leg andfoot of the stocking by circularknitting with a continuous main knitting thread, introducing along withthe main knitting thread a continuous additional thread throughout thecourses of the leg portion, and in portions only of the courses of thefoot forming the top portion of the foot of the stocking, andintroducing a continuous additional thread separate from the firstmentioned additional thread along with the main knitting thread in theother portions .of the courses of the foot forming the bottom of thefoot, and into stitches in each course at opposite sides of the footwhich also contain the first mentioned additional thread, and floatingsaid additional threads across the tube from one side thereof to theother, and knittingthe heel and toe pockets whereby the main knittingthread extends continuously and circularly through all the circularcourses of the leg and foot uniting the leg and foot and uniting thesole and top of the foot, and wherebysaid binding stitches further unitethe sole and top of the foot and hold said additional threads after thefloats are cut out.

21. The herein described seamless tubular fabric formed of circular lmitcourses containing amain knitting thread extending continuously andcircularly around the tubular fabric and through all the stitches ofsuccessive courses, and having a plating thread extending through aportion of the stitches of each course of a plurality of successivecourses in redetermined relation with the main knitting thread, andhaving a separate additional thread extending through the stitches ofother portions of each of said successive courses and being continuousthrough the stitches of each of said courses.

22. A seamless stocking having its leg and foot portions composed ofcircular knit courses of stitches containing a continuous main knittingthread extending continuously and circularly around the leg and footportions, the leg portion containing an additional thread extendingthrough circular courses thereof, and the foot portion containing thesaid additional thread extending thrdugh' portions of each of thecourses thereof forming the top of the foot, and a separate additionalthread extending through portions of each of said foot courses formingthe bottom of the foot, and into binding stitches at each side of thefoot containing the main thread and the first mentioned additionalthread whereby the main knitting thread unites the top and bottomportions of the foot to each other and to the leg portion, and saidbinding stitches unite the top and bottom portions of the foot to forman integral seamless tubular fabric. I

23. A seamless stocking having its leg and foot portions composedofcircular knit courses of stitches containing a continuous mainknitting thread extending continuously and circularly around the leg andfoot portions, the leg portion containing a plating thread extendingcontinuously and circularly around the leg portion throughout cir--extending through the remaining portions of each of said foot coursesforming the bottom of the foot and into binding stitches at each side ofthe foot containing the main knitting thread and said plating threadwhereby the main knitting thread unites the top and bottom portions ofthe foot together and to the leg portion to form an integral wseamlesstubular fabric; and said binding stitches further unite the top'andbottom courses of stitches containing a continuous main knitting threadextending continuously and circularly around the leg and foot portions,the leg portion containing a plating thread extending throughoutcircular courses thereof in predetermined relation With the mainknitting thread, and the foot portion containing said thread extendingthrough v portions only of eachof. the courses thereof forming the topof the toot of the stocking in. the same relation to the main knittingthread as in the leg of the stocking, and a separate plating threadextending through the remaining portions of each of foot courses formingthe bottom "of the foot in predetermined relation to the main knittingthread, and into binding stitches at each "side of the foot containingthe main knitting thread and said first mentioned plating thread wherebythe main knitting thread unites the top and bottom portions of the foottogether and to the leg portion to form an integral seamless tubularfabric, and whereby the said binding stitches further unite saidseparately plated portions and prevent the separation thereof alongtheir lines of joining. a 1

In testimony whereof, I have signed" my name to this specificationin thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

v ROBERT W. sooTr.

Witnesses: RUTH A. Roma,

M. H. BROWNLlIE

